Boise State eyes 2020 return for baseball, still needs home

by Associated Press

CBS 2 FILE

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Boise State University is about a year away from having its first baseball team in years, but the Broncos still don't have a place to play.

Former Boise State President Bob Kustra, who retired last June, announced in April 2017 that the school was dropping wrestling to revive the baseball program in 2020, the Idaho Statesman reported Sunday.

But university spokesman Greg Hahn confirmed that the school is still in the negotiation stage with potential developers for a facility.

The university has narrowed its focus to two developers — Hellas Construction and the Gardner Company, Hahn said.

But there is not enough time now to get a stadium built for the 2020 season.

A stadium would generally take 12-16 months to complete, Gardner Executive Vice President David Wali said.

Both Hellas and Gardner would cost Boise State similar amounts — Gardner between $10-12 million and Hellas an estimated $12 million, according to the proposals obtained by the Statesman.

"Having something for the first season was a priority for us, but working through the process has taken more time than anticipated," athletic director Curt Apsey said in a release. "A permanent home is still obviously something we are working toward, but this is about much more than the 2020 season — it's about building something the right way. We want to make sure that we are playing in something that this program can be proud of many years down the road."

Memorial Stadium, home of the Boise Hawks, a minor league Class-A team of the Colorado Rockies, seems like a natural fit for the Broncos' home games in 2020, but details would have to be ironed out.

A college baseball regular season runs from February through May; the Boise Hawks' first home game isn't until June 17, meaning there wouldn't be overlap.